124 RIFLE AND ROMANCE 



PAKHAL NADDI OF THE PALM TREES 



AlR (Bazar ' tom-toms ') " Rumpi-tumpi-tumpi-tum " 



In the Plain beneath the Mountains, 

 Mountains seven, wild Satpuras, 

 wells a rivulet the Pakhal 

 Pakhal Naddi of the palm trees. 

 Palm trees nodding o'er the copses ; 

 copses full of creeper tangle ; 

 tangle drooping ever downwards, 

 drooping, green, to kiss the surface, 

 surface of dark, placid Pakhal ! 



Darksome are those slimy thickets, 

 thickets of the Pakhal Naddi. 



Waning moon not long since risen, 

 yellow o'er the eastern levels, 

 shimmers faint on winding covert, 

 covert sleeping soft, where crickets, 

 crickets, cicada, are trilling. 



O'er the fields a solemn silence, 

 silence of the coming gilding, 

 green and golden, of the morning, 

 to eye-rubbing, yawning, waking, 

 stirring, waking Mother Nature. 

 Trembles higher star of morning ; 

 grows soft light ere first false dawning ; 

 stir the birds, cry " Chee ! " in brambles ; 

 dim lie fields beyond the brambles 

 bare reaped fields beyond the brambles 

 Where the grey and fleeting shadows, 

 prowling jackal, foul hyaena, 

 slink before compelling fingers 

 first pale fingers of the morning. 



From the trees beyond the river 

 flutes the koelkoel fluty ; 

 scream they, early flying parrots ; 

 stream they, arrow-like, o'erhead to 

 join their fellows mid the Mr trees. 

 Partridge wakes " Ka-teetur ; teetur!" 



